Satire. Scandal. A boy from Barnstaple who changed theatre forever.

GAY is a bold, high energy comedy musical about Barnstaple born playwright John Gay. The sharp witted rebel who turned theatre on its head.

Long before musical theatre became respectable, he was putting thieves, scandal and satire centre stage holding a mirror up to power and daring audiences to laugh at it.

Funny, fast paced and rooted in real history, the show reclaims a local writer whose influence travelled far beyond North Devon. Three hundred years later, his work still echoes through modern theatre even if many people don’t realise it.

This isn’t a dusty period drama.
It’s sharp.
It’s musical.
It’s mischievous.

Expect big characters.
Expect music with bite.
Expect to leave knowing his name.

Because sometimes the ones history forgets are the ones who changed it.

Coming to Fringe Festival
25th – 28th June 2026

Auditions now open.